Build Your Team

Shape-based analysis helps plug deficiencies in personality styles

Identifying your personality style and that of your employees is an important first step toward enriching your team. As elementary as it sounds, matching a shape with a personality can do just that.

"If you’re not aware of the personalities you work with, you’re not likely to be as successful as you could be," says Susan Hite, a consultant who uses Psycho-Geometrics to help managers assess their employees’ strengths and weaknesses.

For example, those who identify most with a square tend to think logically and linearly. On the other hand, "squiggly line" personalities are more creative; they tend to be speculative and animated.

Varying personality styles are necessary in creating a successful employee team. "I would suggest a mix of 20% from each shape group on a team," Hite advises.

For farmers, who often have a limited number of employees, this might mean developing strengths that don’t come naturally. "Farmers often have to challenge the way things are done in order to fill in the gaps in their team," Hite says. "As a result, they tend to be good at all personality and skill sets."

The Good with the Bad. Each personality has its positive and negative attributes, which is important to remember in day-to-day dealings, big-picture planning and everything in between. Those who identify with a triangle don’t feel the need to ask anyone else; they’re fast thinkers and competitive, so they march forward with the task at hand.

"Triangles can’t stand wishy-washy people, which is how they can perceive rectangle and circle personalities," Hite explains. Rectangles tend to focus on change and growth, so they don’t mind
taking a little extra time to explore what’s out there. Circle personalities value harmony, are caretakers and view their own needs last. "One of the key values of circle personalities, however, is that they can read nonverbal communication better than anyone else," Hite says.

It’s not natural for a squiggly-line personality to be a team player; in fact, they frequently break the rules. Along with their high energy and free spirit comes a great deal of creative intelligence.

While squiggly lines might seem unorganized, squares are just the opposite, thriving on a schedule and hoping they’re not surprised by any curveballs.

"The key is to cultivate the strengths you have and maximize your talent. When you are hiring, look for people with different personality types," Hite says.